Houston County Passes SPLOST

HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Houston County voters passed a penny tax to raise $155 million.

The SPLOST passed with 68% of the votes. The money will fund dozens of projects, including economic development, public safety, the issue of encroachment around Robins Air Force Base,
and water upgrades.

 County officials, encroachment at Robins Air Force Base remains at the forefront of priorities for this SPLOST funding.

Houston County will contribute 7 million dollars of SPLOST funds to purchase land around Robins Air Force Base and Bibb County has committed 6 million to do the same.

Out of the 155-million, Public Safety will receive 24%. A couple of those projects include upgrading the E-911 center and construction of Law Enforcement Centers for Warner Robins and Centerville. Transportation will get a large chunk of the money 27% of the SPLOST will cover road widening projects and resurfacing. Chairman Stalnaker says voters took a positive step today in moving the county forward.

“I think they see the county moving forward in the future. Otherwise there was not the financial means to move the county forward. I think they realize the importance of protecting Robins, to remove the encroachment issue from Robins,” said Stalnaker.

The county will also pump funding into economic development by spending 21.5 million on land purchasing and building infrastructure.  The SPLOST will not increase the current sales tax of 7% it will just extend the time period of the tax by 6 years or however long it takes for 155-million to come in.